Dirigible searchlight



March 23, 1937. J. KoLB DIRIGIBLE SEARCHLIGHT Filed oct. 3o, 1935 III/l :LEE

INVENTOR Kolb BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIRIGIBLE SEARCHLIGHT Josef Kolb, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application October 30, 1935, Serial No. 47,398

2 Claims.

The main object of this invention is to provide a dirigible search light which rotates in two planes and is used for illuminating elds and other large areas from a central site. Reilectors 5 in their sphere of activity are generally known; likewise reflectors are known which rotate on one axis with a Velocity such that the light cone of the reilector apparently illuminates the entire area at one time. This device proposes to provide a mechanism which rotates the reilector in both a vertical and horizontal plane.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the drawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing Figure 1 is a partly sectioned front elevational View of the search light or reflector.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Referring in detail to the drawing the numeral I9, indicates the parabolically formed body of the search light. Diametrically opposed upon this parabolic body are spindles II and I2. These spindles l l and I2, are journaled in standards I3 and i4, respectively. The standards I3 and I4 are equipped with a thrust bearing I5,

and a roller bearing I6, which serves the purpose of easy operation. The reduced shank Il, continues from the end of spindle I2, and is positioned adjacent to the standard I4. This shank has a beveled gear I 8, secured thereto by a pin I9. Intermediate the height of the standard I4 and beneath the beveled gear I8, a journal 29 is formed in which a roller bearing 2|, is inserted.

A thrust bearing 22, is mounted on a shaft 23, which latter extends diagonally thru the standard I4, and at its upper end is surmounted by a beveled gear 24. Said beveled gear is secured in place on the upper reduced end 25, of the shaft by pin 26. The diagonal shaft extends thru an annular table 2l, and is journaled in a lug 28,

provided on the underside of said table. This table is axially mounted on the tapered end of the shaft 29, by inserting a flanged collar 30, in

a recess in the table. This relatively short shalt 29, is rotatably mounted in an inverted cup-like member 3l. The beveled gear 32, is seated on the roof 33, of the cup-like member 3|, and is retained stationary on member 33, by a screw 34, or similar other anchoring means. The beveled gear 32 is provided with an annular recess in which a thrust bearing 35 is located. The larger beveled gear 32, meshes with similar gear 36,

which latter is mounted upon the lower reduced end 3l, of the shaft member 23. The drive shaft 39, is located co-axially with the tapered shaft 29, but is separated from the latter. This drive shaft is preferably coupled with an electric motor or the like (not shown on drawing). The drive shaft Sil, is of slidable construction and on its upper end a cone 39, is secured by a pin 40. This cone is also provided with an annular channel 4I, for the purposes which will be more fully hereinafter described. The cone cooperates with the cone shell 42, and when the cone 39, is thrust into contacting position with the cone shell, the shaft 29, and all the beveled gears connected therewith will rotate the spindles II and I2, reflector IFJ, and the table 2l.

To cause contact between the cone shell 42, and the cone 39, the cone must be moved vertically. This movement is accomplished by an obtuse angled bell crank 44, whose one end lies in an in serted position in the channel 4I, of the cone 39. The bell crank is journaled about the pair of spaced apart lugs 45, upon the pivot pin 46. The opposite end of the bell crank 44, is provided with inclined slot 4l, in which the end of the follower pin 4B, registers. Said follower pin is anchored in the rooi` 49, of the slide carriage 50. The slide carriage is mounted on the stand 52, upon which the entire device is supported. This carriage has aligned slots 53 and 54, therein in which screws 55, anchored to the stand 52, register. At one extreme end of the carriage '59, the finger ring 56, is formed by which means the cone clutch mechanism is retracted and advanced. As previously stated reflectors which revolve on a single axis illuminate only one circle area which corresponds to a profile of the light cone. The practical application of this type of device is therefore exceedingly limited. This deficiency is lnodied by my invention inasmuch as by simultaneous rotation on two axes not only one circle area but also one hemisphere will be illuminated at the same instant. Application of this reflector is considerably greater than the generally used system. With my reflector, harbors, landing places as well as air ports can be eiciently illuminated. In aviation this means important progress as night ilying becomes safer. The apparatus may form part of the equipment of an aeroplane or air ship and can be so regulated as to illuminate the entire area below the carrier corresponding to the maximum of the light cone.

The beveled gear 32, is mounted in stationary position on the cup member 3|, and table 21 rotates carrying with it the beveled gears 36, 24, and I9. Rotating of the table causes the body I0, to sweep over the large eld while the beveled Cil gears 36, 24, and I8 rotate the search light body in a horizontal plane. The finger ring 56, actuates the clutch and when pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 will partly rotate the bell crank and lift the cone 39, into engaging position with the cone shell 42, thus actuating the entire mechanism. Reversal of the movement of the carriage 50, will disengage the clutch members.

It is to be noted that certain' changes in form and construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, a parabolically formed body of a search light, spindles diametrically disposed upon the latter, standards adapted to have said spindles journaled therein, a reduced shank continuing from the end of one of said spindles and being positioned adjacent the standard supporting said latter spindle, a pin securing a beveled gear to said reduced shank, a journal having a roller bearing inserted therein and being positioned intermediary the height of said latter standard and beneath said beveled gear, a shaft extending diagonally thru said latter standard and having a thrust bearing mounted thereon, a beveled gear at the upper end of said shaft, an annular table, the diagonally positioned shaft extending through said annular table, a lug upon the underside of the table and having said diagonally positioned shaft journaled therein, a short shaft made with a tapered end portion, a flanged collar upon the table, said collar being mounted axially upon the tapered end portion of said shaft, an inverted cup-like member adapted to receive rotatably therein said short shaft, a beveled gear disposed on the roof of said cup-like member and being provided with an annular recess therein, a thrust bearing mounted in said recess, said latter beveled gear meshing with another gear, the latter gear being mounted upon a lower reduced end portion of the said diagonally positioned shaft, a drive shaft positioned coaxially with the tapered short shaft, said drive shaft being slidable and having a cone mounted upon the upper end thereof, said cone being provided with an annular channel, a cone shell cooperating with said cone, an obtuse angled bell crank having one end disposed in the annular channel of the cone, a pivot pin, a pair of spaced lugs upon the latter, said bell crank being jour'- naled about said lugs, the opposite end of the bell crank being provided with an inclined slot, a follower pin, the latter being adapted to cooperate with said slot, a slide carriage having a roof portion, the follower pin being anchored to the latter, a stand supporting said slide carriage, said carriage being formed with aligned canals therein adapted to receive screws, the said screws being anchored to said stand, and a handle at the end of the carriage, whereby to operate a cone clutch in retracted and advanced positions.

2. In a device of the class described, a parabolically formed body of a search light, spindles diametrically disposed upon the latter, standards adapted to have said spindles journaled therein, a reduced shank continuing from the end of one of said spindles and being positioned adjacent the standard supporting said latter spindle, a pin securing a beveled gear to said reduced shank, a journal having a roller bearing inserted therein and being positioned intermediary the height of said latter standard and beneath said beveled gear, a shaft extending diagonally thru said latter standard and having a thrust bearing mounted thereon, a beveled gear at the upper end of said shaft, an annular table, the diagonally positioned shaft extending through said annular table, a lug upon the underside of the table and having said diagonally positioned shaft journaled therein, a short shaft made with a tapered end portion, a flanged collar upon the table, said collar being mounted axially upon the tapered end portion of said shaft, an inverted cup-like member adapted to receive rotatably therein said shaft, a beveled gear disposed on the roof of said cup-like member and being provided with an annular recess therein, a thrust bearing mounted in said recess, said latter beveled gear meshing with another gear, the latter gear being mounted upon a lower reduced end portion of the said diagonally positioned shaft, a drive shaft positioned co-axially with the tapered short shaft, said drive shaft being slidable and having a cone mounted upon the upper end thereof, said cone being provided with an annular channel, and a cone shell cooperating with said cone, whereby upon said cooperation the short tapered shaft and all the beveled gears connected therewith will rotate the spindles, a reflector and the table.

JOSEF KOLB. 

